A qualitative exploration of travel-related risk behaviours of injection drug users from two Slovene regions

This qualitative study of travel-related risk behaviours of Slovene injection drug users was based on interviews with individuals enrolled in drug addiction treatment programmes run by three regional centres for prevention and treatment of drug addiction. The primary objective of the study was to analyse behaviour patterns and practices of injection drug users during travel

Proportion and characteristics of patients who measure their blood pressure at home: Nationwide survey in Slovenia

Introduction. Home blood pressure monitoring has several advantages over blood pressure monitoring at a physician's office, and has become a useful instrument in the management of hypertension. Objective. To explore the rate and characteristics of patients who measure their blood pressure at home. Methods. A sample of 2,752 patients with diagnosis of essential arterial hypertension was selected from 12596 consecutive office visitors. Data of 2,639 patients was appropriate for analysis. The data concerning home blood pressure measurement and patients' characteristics were obtained from the patients' case histories. Results 1,835 (69.5%) out of 2,639 patients measured their blood pressure at home. 1,284 (70.0%) of home blood pressure patients had their own blood pressure measurement device. There were some important differences between these two groups: home blood pressure patients were more frequently male, of younger age, better educated, from urban area, mostly non-smokers, more likely to have diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease and had higher number of co-morbidities and were on other drugs beside antihypertensive medication. Using the logistic regression analysis we found that the most powerful predictors of home blood pressure monitoring had higher education level than primary school OR=1.80 (95% CI 1.37-2.37), non-smoking OR=2.16 (95% CI 1.40-3.33) and having a physician in urban area OR=1.32 (95% CI 1.02-1.71). Conclusion. Home blood pressure monitoring is popular in Slovenia. Patients who measured blood pressure at home were different from patients who did not. Younger age, higher education, non-smoking, having a physician in urban area and longer duration of hypertension were predictors of home blood pressure monitoring

The prevalence of domestic violence in primary care patients in Slovenia in a five-year period (2005-2009)

Aim To estimate the prevalence of exposure to domestic violence in primary care patients in Slovenia and determine the associated factors. Methods In a systematic cross-sectional survey, 70 physicians from 70 family medicine practices from urban and rural settings conducted interviews with every fifth patient from January 15 to February 15, 2010. Results Of 2075 patients (98.8% response rate), 372 (17.9%) were exposed to psychological or physical violence in the family in the last five years. Factors that increased the chances of exposure to psychological and physical violence were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.24-4.76; P < 0.001; OR, 4.52; 95% CI, 2.83-7.20; P < 0.001, respectively) and formal divorce (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.35-3.21; P = 0.001; OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.73-4.29; P < 0.001, respectively). Factors that decreased the chances of exposure to psychological violence were age of 65 years or above (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33-0.96, P = 0.035) and single status (OR, 0.43; 95% CI 0.21-0.86, P = 0.016), while age of 65 years or above (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.79, P = 0.007) and parenting of two children (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.90, P = 0.020) decreased the chances of exposure to physical violence. Conclusions We found the rate of exposure to psychological and physical violence of 17.9%, which indicates that this problem is a serious public health issue that needs to be addressed by adequate measures. The identified risk and protective factors could serve as a valid guidance for family physicians dealing with physical violence

Prevalence and incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Slovenian children and adolescents: a database study from a national perspective

Aim To estimate prevalence and incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents in Slovenia using different epidemiological models. Methods Data from the National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia for the period 1997-2012 were analyzed. The database includes the annual number of newly diagnosed outpatients with ADHD in Slovenia. The evaluation for ADHD diagnoses was done in accordance with the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) outpatient data codes. In model 1, a linear increase was proposed to fit the data in the period from 1997 to 2003 in order to extrapolate the data before 1997. In model 2 and 3, an exponential increase in the annual incidence rate was proposed. Results The incidence rate of ADHD diagnosis in 1997 was 0.032% and in 2012 it increased to 0.082%. Mean prevalence rate was 750 (95% confidence interval: 660-840) per 100 000 children and adolescents. It was estimated that the prevalence rate in 2020 would be 1% (95% confidence interval: 0.875-1.125), which is 6.3-fold higher than in 1997. Conclusions ADHD is a common mental health disorder among Slovenian children and adolescents, but it remained underdiagnosed compared with Western countries. Our results indicated a need for improved timely interventions in Slovenia, not only in child and adolescent psychiatry but also in primary settings and adult psychiatry, where ADHD should be more efficiently recognized

Faculty development for teachers of family medicine in Europe: Reflections on 16 years' experience with the international Bled course

Background: Instruction in principles and methods of medical education is a core component of the training of medical teachers. Curricula for new medical teachers have developed across Europe, but few European courses have had the success of the EURACT Bled course for teachers of family medicine. The course focuses on practical issues in medicine and the professional development of physicians. This article describes 16 years' experience with the Bled course for teachers in general practice/family medicine (GP/FM). Course structure: The course is centred on the preparation of a teaching module, exploring a specific theme in family medicine. The main teaching methods used are: keynote lectures, small group sessions, field work and preparation of a teaching module by the participants. Outcomes: This course has attracted 555 participants from 20 countries since 1992. The course and its outputs have been applied in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and in continuous professional development (CPD) in several countries. It is a respected forum for faculty development. The experience of the Bled course suggests that academic medicine may be better able to fulfil its responsibilities by paying attention to relevant topics and using appropriate methods in undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Health behaviour changes in cutaneous melanoma survivors

Aim of this study was to  investigate changes in health behavior of melanoma survivors with emphasis on safe sun behavior (SSB) and skin self-examination (SSE). We also identified factors with significant impact on SSE improvement. We performed a cross-sectional (epidemiological) survey based on a structured questionnaire. 150 patients from three medical institutions were invited and 144 patients responded. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 23.0, with the level of significance set to 0.05. After being diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma, patients significantly improved preventive health behavior: 68.1% showed improvement in SSE, and 91.5% of patients improved SSB. There was statistically significant (P&lt;0.001) improvement in the frequency of skin examination, examination of poorly visible areas (between the toes, genitals), and obtaining help in examination. Use of melanoma images remained scarce. Results for SSB were even better, and statistically significant improvement was recorded in all areas: using higher UV protection filters, wearing sunglasses, headgear, long sleeves, and trousers, and especially in staying in deep shade during hours of heavy UV radiation. The only factor with a positive influence on expected improvement in SSE was female gender. On the other hand, there were two factors that had a negative impact on SSE: patients with melanoma stage 1 and patients who had already self-examined themselves before their melanoma diagnosis. Preventive health behavior improved significantly after diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Patients markedly improved SSB and substantially enhanced SSE. We believe that it is reasonable to improve SSE further, encouraging patients by increasing their feeling of self-efficacy.</p

Raziskovanje v družinski medicini v Sloveniji

Primarni nivo zdravstvenega varstva predstavlja vstopno mesto v zdravstveni sistem in od njega je v veliki meri odvisna kakovost in stroškovna vzdržnost zdravstvenega sistema. Raziskovanje je gonilo strokovnega razvoja v skrbi za čim boljšo kakovost oskrbe pacientov. Družinska medicina (DM) v Sloveniji predstavlja največjo specialnost na primarnem nivoju zdravstvenega varstva, ki je na področju raziskovanja v zadnjih desetletjih dosegla velike uspehe. V preglednem prispevku bodo prikazane značilnosti raziskovanja v družinski medicini, predstavljena vključenost raziskovanja v različne nivoje izobraževalnega procesa in delo v praksi ter nakazani  izzivi, ki družinsko medicino kot znanstveno in raziskovalno vedo čakajo v prihodnje

Factors in Traditional Families which Affect Health and Health Care: A Qualitative Study

One of the most powerful influences on the patient is the family and its characteristics. In the recent decades families have changed, one of the most well known changes was a shift from extended to nuclear families. The consequences of this shift on health have been poorly researched, although family factors are being taught at medical schools. The aim of this study is to explore differences and similarities in factors between nuclear and extended families which may affect health and health care of family members. We conducted the qualitative study of family reports. The reports were done by students of family medicine. We examined the reports according to fourtheme: 1) Relations between the members of the family and between them and society, 2) Lifestyle, 3) Use of medical services and confidence in doctors and medicine, 4) llnesses and attitude towards illnesses. Differences were found in relations between the closest members of the family, close family interactions, domination issues and family roles, attitudes towards independence, parents and children, interaction with other people, attitude towards medicine, taking care of the sick member of the family and the way families endure illnesses. A quantitative research is needed to verify all the differences which we came across in this study. The qualitative data support the importance of family on health

The development of academic family medicine in central and eastern Europe since 1990

Background: Since the early 1990s former communist countries have been reforming their health care systems, emphasizing the key role of primary care and recognizing family medicine as a specialty and an academic discipline. This study assesses the level of academic development of the discipline characterised by education and research in central and eastern European (CEE) countries. Methods: A key informants study, using a questionnaire developed on the basis of a systematic literature review and panel discussions, conducted in 11 central and eastern European countries and Russia. Results: Family medicine in CEE countries is now formally recognized as a medical specialty and successfully introduced into medical training at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Almost all universities have FM/GP departments, but only a few of them are led by general practitioners. The specialist training programmes in all countries except Russia fulfil the recommendations of the European Parliament. Structured support for research in FM/GP is not always available. However specific scientific organisations function in almost all countries except Russia. Scientific conferences are regularly organised in all the countries, but peer-reviewed journals are published in only half of them. Conclusions: Family medicine has a relatively strong position in medical education in central and eastern Europe, but research in family practice is less developed. Although the position of the discipline at the universities is not very strong, most of the CEE countries can serve as an example of successful academic development for countries southern Europe, where family medicine is still not fully recognised